Are You Awake?

Album: Vicious Creature (2023)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Lauren Mayberry of Chvrches' first solo single, "Are You Awake?" is a melancholic, intimate piano-driven ballad. On a somber and rainy December afternoon in America, the Scottish singer, grappling with homesickness, composed the song as she missed the people back home.
  • Mayberry connected with the Canadian singer-songwriter Tobias Jesso Jr. (Adele's "When We Were Young " and "To Be Loved," Harry Styles' "Boyfriends") to write the song. Both shared the experience of living in Los Angeles away from their home country.

    Zedd collaborator Matthew Koma added finishing touches to the delicate arrangement. "I was thinking a lot about loneliness and homesickness, and as soon as Tobias started playing the chords, the lyrics and melody came to me really quickly," Mayberry said of the song. "I finished the song with my friend Matthew Koma, who really understood what I was trying to say."
  • Matthew Koma arranged the strings and played keyboards and guitar. The other musicians are:

    Taylor Goldsmith: piano
    Griffin Goldsmith: drums
    Brad Goodall: keyboards

    Taylor Goldsmith is the frontman of American folk rock band Dawes. Goldsmith has also done work as a session musician, performing on albums by Jackson Browne, John Fogerty, and the Killers, among others. His brother, Griffin Goldsmith, is Dawes' drummer. Singer-songwriter Brad Goodell released his debut album, Made In America, on November 4, 2022.
  • Mayberry released "Are You Awake?" on September 1, 2023. She debuted the song live at the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC, three days later. It was her first time playing a headline show as a solo artist.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

The 10 Bands Most Like Spinal Tap

The 10 Bands Most Like Spinal TapSong Writing

Based on criteria like girlfriend tension, stage mishaps and drummer turnover, these are the 10 bands most like Spinal Tap.

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)Songwriter Interviews

Chad tells tales from his time as drummer for Nirvana, and talks about his group Before Cars.

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillian

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillianSong Writing

A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.

Arrested For Your Art - The Story Of 2 Live Crew's "Obscene" Album

Arrested For Your Art - The Story Of 2 Live Crew's "Obscene" AlbumSong Writing

In the summer of 1990, you could get arrested for selling a 2 Live Crew album or performing their songs in Southern Florida. And that's exactly what happened.

Penny Ford of Snap!

Penny Ford of Snap!Songwriter Interviews

The original voice of Snap! this story is filled with angry drag queens, video impersonators and Chaka Khan.

Jon Foreman of Switchfoot

Jon Foreman of SwitchfootSongwriter Interviews

Switchfoot's frontman and main songwriter on what inspires the songs and how he got the freedom to say exactly what he means.